Racing-saddle.



PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904.

H. M. MASON. RACING SADDLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

fizveiaiw."

I No. 767,003.

Patented August 9, 1904.

PATENT Optics.

HENRY M. MASON, OF GRAVESEND, NEN YORK.

RACING-"SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters iPatent No. 767,003, dated August 9, 1904,

/ Application filed March 251903. Serial No. 19,5'75. (No model.)

To (1.7] whom it 'nuty concern.-

Be it known thatll, HENRY M. Mason, a citizen of the United States, residing at Graves: end, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and usefullmprovemerits in Racing-Saddles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to racing-saddles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a light yet thoroughly strong article of this character wherein the weight of the rider or jockey is sustained practically wholly by the withers of the horse.

It has been found by long experience in racing short distances that where the weight of a saddle and a jockey is applied to the back of'a horse it presses against the back to such an extent as to considerably harass or impede the horse. ll avoid this difficulty by supporting the saddle practically whollyby the withers of the horse, where experience has indicated the animal can best bear such weight in racing short distances at rapid speeds. Therefore I do not by my invention harass or impede the horse, but am enabled to obtain the highest degree of speed. 7

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification and showing the de vice in one simple and convenient embodiment thereof, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the saddle, showing the manner of using the l or straddle the Withers of the horse.

same. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of said saddle, and Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of the same.

Like characters refer to like parts in the several views.

The improved saddle 5 is of approximately U shape, it including in its make-up a tree, which may be made of any suitable material, such as sheet metal, whereby strength and lightness are secured. corresponds in shape to the saddle and is covered with leather, cloth, or any other desirable material. The transverse portion of the saddle, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, is arched or of substantially inverted-V form to emllirace T ierefore the saddle and the rider are supported by the withers, so that the combined weight of the two is applied to that part of the horse The tree of course.

where it will have the least effect upon his movements. The legs or side branches of the saddle do not bear with any appreciable force against the animal. The leather covering the tree of the saddle depends from the sides of the branches thereof to form the skirts 6, the latter being pocketed to rernovably receive leads or handicap-weights (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1) and held in the pockets of the skirts by straps, as 7 The saddle 5 has a lever]ike motion, and to secure such function the rear ends of the branches thereof have means for flexibly connecting the saddle to a relatively fixed part at the rear of thestirrup-strap connections here inafter described, which relatively fixed part may be a surcingle, as 8, suitably applied to the horse at the usual place or any equivalent member.

The means for attaching the branches of the saddle 5 to the surcingle 8 is shown as a slot-aml-loop connection, said branches being slotted, as shown in Fig. 1, to receive loops, as 9, suitably connected with the surcingle 8. The flexible connection indicated permits a lever-like motion of the saddle upon the horse.

To protect the animal as far as possible, I locate upon the inner side of the branches of the arched portion of the saddle 5 inflatable pads, as 10, which are covered with leather and suitably held to the saddle. These inflatable pads have the usual nipples 10 for the application of an air-pump, whereby said pads can be inflated, in which latter condition they hold the apex of the arclred portion out of contact with the vertebrae of the horse.

Stirrup-straps, as 11, are shown as adjustably connected with .the branches of the sad dle in front of the flexible connection 9, and

in the present case the adjustable connection is secured by forming in the branches of the saddle longitudinally-disposed slots 12, adapted to rcmovably receive the respective straps. in Fig. lthe several slots 12 are shown as situated between the arched portion of the 9 saddle and theilexible connection 9, three of said slots being illustrated in each branch.

The jockey of course does not sit upon the saddle, but is supported by the usual stirrups at the lowerends of the appropriate straps,

and no matter What the position of the jockey may be his Weight, as Well as that of the saddle, is applied to the Withers of the horse.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*

1. A racingsaddle of approximately U shape, the transverse portion thereof being arched, and the branches thereof having means for the attachment thereto of stirrup-straps, and also having means for flexibly connecting the said branches to a relatively fixed part at the rear of the stirrup-straps, to permit a lever-like motion of the saddle, said transverse portion being arranged to be supported on the Withers of an animal and constituting the sole Weight-applyin g bearing of said saddle against said animal.

2. A racing saddle of approximately U shape, the transverse portion thereof being arched and the branches thereof having means for the adjustable attachment thereto of stirrup-straps, and also having means for flexibly transverse portion being arranged to be supported on the Withers of an animal and constituting the sole Weight-applying bearing of said saddle on said animal.

3. A saddle of approximately U shape, the transverse portion thereof being arched and each branch thereof having a slot at its rear end to secure a flexible connection between the saddle and a relatively fixed part, whereby a lever-like motion of the saddle is obtained, said branches each having a series of slots longitudinally thereof and between the transverse portion and the other slots, for the adjustablev connection of stirrup-straps, said transverse portion being arranged to be supported on the Withers of an animal and constituting the sole Weight-applying bearing of said saddle against said animal. 1

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in-presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY M. MASON.

Witnesses:

JAMEs L. NORRIS, THoMAsM. GAssIDY. 

